A small community in Texas is grieving the loss of a talented young rodeo star, Ace Patton Ashford. The 18-year-old from Lott, Texas, tragically lost his life in an unexpected accident.

On a quiet Monday morning, around 8 a.m., Ace was checking on a sick calf near Chilton when the unthinkable happened. A nearby horse became startled, causing a chain of events that would lead to Ace’s untimely passing. The Lott Volunteer Fire Department shared that Ace’s leg somehow became entangled, and he was dragged across an open field by the horse.

Despite the quick response from emergency teams who found him breathing with a pulse, Ace had already sustained serious head injuries.

Fondly remembered by his friends and family, Ace was known as an “amazing and humble young man.” Hailing from the quaint town of Lott, with a population of just 650, Ace had big dreams of becoming a rodeo cowboy.

Having recently graduated from Rosebud-Lott High School, Ace had earned a scholarship to Hill College in Hillsboro. He was eagerly looking forward to joining their rodeo team in the upcoming fall semester.

His love for the cowboy way of life defined him, and he was truly